Gun Makers Set Sights On Female Buyers : NPR

Gun Makers Set Sights On Female Buyers : NPR

I came across this article tonight and thought I'd give my two cents on colored guns, from the female side of the fence as well as the sales person side of the fence.

There are a lot of companies out there right now doing this, and some are even branching out a little more. Charter Arms offers the Undercover in red, the Lavender Lady in purple, the Chic Lady in high polished pink with a pink snake skin carry case, the Santa Fe Sky in a light blue, the Cougar in a splotched pink finish, etc. Walther has a P22 out in black, white, gray, and pink digi-cam. And even Sig Sauer released the Mosquito in a darker shade hot pink. On the rifle side, Ruger has released a 10/22 in various laminate stocks in red, pink, purple, blue, etc.

I have heard everything under the sun about these guns.

They look like toys.
If you need a pink gun to get into shooting, you shouldn't own a gun.
Whatever it takes to get women into shooting.
I want one!
That would be great for my girlfriend!

From the side of female shooter... I'm a little offended. I'll admit, when I saw the Charter Arm's Cougar I was taken aback. Most people who see it ask me what's wrong with it and if it is discounted for having a problem with the finish. No... they meant for it to look that way. Let me explain. The finish is a light pink with dark pink splotches on it. It does look like there was a manufacturing error on a Pink Lady. Or the gun is old and worn out, which I hear a lot of people say. Which... yeah, what is a "cougar" in the eyes of most people who make fun of them? Feels to me like yet another shot at older women who still like to enjoy themselves.

As a sales person... I don't see the great sales a lot of these articles report. I have worked in two gun stores. The first one I worked in had a wide variety of every pink gun known to man. If it was made in pink, we had it in. We also had pink knives, pink gun cases, pink hearing protection, pink eye protection... you get the point. Pink knives and pink hearing protection sold pretty well. Pink guns... every single one had to be discounted and sold through an auction site.

I have, in my career, sold three pink guns. I remember them all clearly. Only one left me feeling confident. The woman bought a revolver with a pink grip. Sure, she liked that it matched everything in her purse. But she did what I expect all gun buyers to do... she didn't just yell, "PINK GUN!" and buy it. She handled several guns over a two day period. Two were pink, the rest were standard gun colors. She chose the pink one based on fit and feel, and shot a counter part to it before buying.

It was the lady who had half the store begging her to find something else that turned me away. She chose a small gun with a pink handle. She could not operate the slide, she refused to shoot it before buying it, etc. The only thing she cared about was how cute it looked in her purse. And the first time the gun jammed, she came back and threw curses at everyone she could reach, as if it was our fault she didn't think it through. The problem was... she couldn't clear the jam... because she couldn't operate the gun.

I am not a fan of factory pink painted guns. Custom order pink or pinked by a gunsmith? I support that 100%. I don't like factory pink because 2/3 of the women who buy them don't think them out first. 100% of those who custom order a factory pink gun or have it painted pink later do think it out.

With all this said, I will admit to you my two girlie purchases... before some girl starts freaking out about how I just hate them because they aren't the norm. I use a set of Caldwell electronic ear muffs... in bright flaming pink. I also own and shoot a Ruger 10/22 with a red laminate stock. And I've found some custom jobs I really did love. One in particular was a Kimber 1911 I saw years ago... high polished stainless steal with pink snake print grips and gold features. Oh! And I lied! I have a third one! I almost forgot! My Springfield Armory 1911 has a set of red hot rod flame grips on it. I'm also considering a Hello Kitty plate for my Glock 21's rear end.

So no, I am not anti girlie gun gear. I don't hate pink guns. I think a gun that suits your tastes is the best thing you could own.

As long as it completely suits your tastes. That means... you tried it out before you bought it, the gun fits your hand, it fits your needs for it, and you can handle it and shoot it well. Now if you bought it the minute you saw it and only based on the fact that it matches your purse, I do take issue with that.

A woman has the same requirements for a gun as a man. Yes, I know, the average woman is 5'4" and a man is 5'8". I understand that, even being a woman of above average height (I'm 5'9" with a large hand). That actually doesn't mean much. You still need to shoot the gun well, it has to feel good in your hand, and you have to be comfortable with it. Pink or purple or blue or black.

Ladies, I have a news flash for you. Love the Walther P22 in pink, but want a larger caliber and a thicker gun? Really want the Walther P99 (it's larger framed and larger caliber counter part)? Great! Buy the P99... and get it painted!!!! Don't just settle on a gun you don't really want based completely on the color. You can get any gun painted almost any color, and many will do various patterns. Hell, get a cartoon character done on the darn thing! I saw an AR15 the other day with a custom laser etching on the lower receiver of Rosie the Riveter! Like a custom paint job on a car, the possibilities are endless!

But you just saw the gun and MUST have it because it's pink, regardless of it fitting you and your needs? Bad move. It's wasted money. If the factory colored gun is the one that honestly suits you, buy it. But be honest with yourself about it. Does it look cute in your purse or can you shoot it really well?

Here are some colored guns for your consideration.

First, the factory guns. All well made and worth buying... if they suit you. (not a complete list)

Charter Arms Pink Lady:


Charter Arms Santa Fe:


Charter Arms Lavender Lady:


Walther P22:


Walther P22:


Walther P22:


Sig Sauer Mosquito:


Some custom paint jobs:

Hello Kitty:




Breast Cancer Awareness AR15:


Pink Glock:


Pink Camo Ruger:


Pink Glock:


Zebra Gun:


Pinkish... greenish... Glock:



Rosie the Riveter:

Want some custom work done? Check out your options...


CADD Graphics - They did Rosie the Riveter

Robar

DuraCoat by Jim's Gun Supply

And many more.

I Find Halo Sights Useful... Just Not for Me

I guess I need to learn to keep my thoughts to myself on forums. I'm apparently far too simple and old school for these people. What the hell would they do if they found out I bore sighted my .308 the old school way (looking through the barrel from the back with the bolt removed) instead of sighting it in with a laser?! I had an audience the day I actually did it, so I can only imagine! LOL!

Someone posted up on a forum about optics for AR15 rifles. Which is all well and good. But what most people want for an AR15 isn't something to make it easier to see the target at the distances those rifles are accurate out to (and being a local forum, I know there isn't any place to go to shoot them at those distances, either). They want a fancy halo sight like an Eotech or an ACOG, whatever they were recently told the Navy SEALs or the Marine Snipers are using by some asshole in a gun shop who just wants to ass rape them for $700 or more of their money. There is nothing wrong with an Eotech or ACOG sight... if you are a Navy SEAL (a sniper probably wants more than 1X magnification, so if you believe Marine Snipers are using them, then I have a bridge to sell you). They're also great if you are shooting matches with your AR15 or using them as a home defense weapon system. But for throwing lead down range? Waste of money.

Sights like the Eotech and the ACOG are great for "quick acquisition of targets." Meaning... if you are currently in a combat situation, it is extremely helpful to be able to acquire the enemy in your sights quickly before he sprays your ass down with his Kalashnikov. A standard scope isn't "quick acquisition" and not really suited for close quarters combat. These halo sights are also useful in matches like three gun, where time wins the game and targets are fairly close. And in home defense, same thing. You don't have time to try to get your scope in place and you don't need to see into the bad guy's pores to defend yourself, therefore having a low magnification quick acquisition scope is best.

Me? I went the less expensive route. I don't want to drop $700 on a scope for a rifle I just want to have fun at the range with. I'm not going to Afghanistan any time soon, nor have I chosen this rifle as my home defense weapon (that's what Shotgun Bob is for), and I've sort of stepped back from the shooting match scene. I have my .308 with a fancy scope that I'd like to master for matches someday, but I need a lot of work and learning before I even consider it. My .308 isn't really a fun gun in those standards. My AR15... fun gun.

Iron sights. They're quick acquisition and came with the gun. I'm good.

Yes, yes, my eye sight isn't what it used to be. And that's a common explanation from someone trying to justify to themselves why they are buying this really expensive piece of equipment. But a 1X magnifier isn't going to do the job in that case, and to get it up 4 or 5 X magnification is double the price for a second piece to shove behind it to do this for you. For half the price I can slap a Zeiss Conquest up there, see ten times as far, and have glass that will outlive me and possibly the rifle! Added benefit is the weight I'm adding to my gun is also cut in half.

But for a rifle I don't have access to a range longer than 100 yards for and I have no plans for other than enjoying? Do I really need to spend this money? No.

I shoot just fine with irons. I admit, I have a problem seeing the target these days and have to bring it in a little closer now. But... see two paragraphs above.

Now, I posted on the thread - like an idiot - that I chose not to put a scope on my AR15 and instead rely on the iron sights. And no, I don't have fancy Magpul flip up shits on it either. I have the standard sights that came with the rifle. Yes, the back one flips down. It's really handy for storing the gun away or shoving it in the case with another rifle. But I chose not to use a scope on it. Yeah, sure I considered a scope for it... for about five seconds. But we do just fine together with the iron sights. I've been asked twice to become a rifle instructor and have been invited to several rifle matches. So I think I'm doing alright.

Either way, this brought on the internet equivalent of roaring laughter. Apparently it is a waste of money to have the rifle if you are going to use iron sights only! What was I thinking?! Into the corn field with actual marksmanship! I need to quickly zero in on a paper bowling pin 50 yards away or the terrorists win!

But I don't have a use for a halo sight. I don't have the desire to spend a lot of ammo and time getting it zeroed in. And I don't have any batteries to replace when they die in the middle of a shoot. Sure, people are usually astounded to see my Stag is without an optic, because apparently this is a rare scene these days. I've had countless people watch me shoot - with naked eyes and spotting scopes - to see if I was actually hitting anything without one. And they've all made positive comments when they realized I'm grouping center mass at 100 yards.

Like the saying goes... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.